Evolution of Militant Groups in Pakistan (1) Backgrounder APR-JUNE. Apr-June 2011

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1 APR-JUNE 2011 Backgrounder 0 P a g e

2 Backgrounder Muhammad Amir Rana 1.Introduction Albert Einstein said problems could not be solved by the same level of thinking that created them. The statement fits like a glove to Pakistan s counterterrorism approach that is characterized by a lack of innovation and creativity. Many believe that Islamabad lacks a coherent and comprehensive strategy to stem the rising tide of religious militancy and fight the menace of terrorism. But the government cites as proof of its commitment the establishment of National Counterterrorism Authority (NACTA) to examine the problem and devise a viable policy. It is not clear how much time NACTA would take to accomplish this job and, more importantly, if it would be able to rescue the country s security doctrine from shadows of the Soviet-Afghan war. Pakistan s present security narrative was developed in the context of that conflict, making it convenient for the defense establishment and the political administration to blame all domestic problems on external forces and factors. This approach has failed to evolve in synch with emerging threats. The country s militant landscape has changed significantly in recent years, with militant strands such as the Punjabi Taliban posing new and increasingly worrying challenges for the state. The militancy in Pakistan has become a complex phenomenon with ever-changing dynamics. An improved and coherent approach to address the issue of militancy requires a composite knowledge base. This report is an attempt to explore the complexities of the phenomenon with a view to develop better understanding, which is critical to the ability to respond to the challenge on the policy, implementation and societal levels. In this perspective the report explores three dimensions of the militant landscape in Pakistan: i. Historical Perspective: Comprehension of the ideological and tactical evolution of militant groups in Pakistan must be the first step towards evolving a comprehensive policy. Although considerable literature is available on the historical perspective of militant groups, but most of it is based on secondary sources and is loaded with factual inaccuracies. An analysis based on faulty data obviously cannot lead to accurate threat assessment. Furthermore, Pakistani militant groups have kept changing their strategies and tactics according to the circumstances and countermeasures they have faced. The available data is old and few attempts have been made to update it with a view to understand the patterns of evolution of militant outfits. ii. Complex Organizational Structures and Linkages: The nature and agendas of militant groups in Pakistan in recent years have been anything but stagnant. Militant groups faced internal fissures, external pressures and kept changing their strategies and nexus. The groups involved 1 P a g e

3 in terrorist activities across Pakistan are largely splinters of banned militant organizations, in addition to a few groups that have emerged recently. The banned organizations, which were once acknowledged as strategic assets of the state, have nurtured narratives of extremism or destruction. Although their focus was initially on ridding the Muslims of Kashmir, Afghanistan and other regions of the world of tyrannical rule, review of their literature and stated objectives lays bare sectarian motives and ambitions for achieving an ultra-orthodox theocracy in Pakistan. However, realization of theocracy in the country was the secondary agenda of the militant organizations, once they had achieved their objectives in Kashmir, Afghanistan and elsewhere. However, splinter groups of the militant outfits have prioritized the initial secondary agenda and started pursuing it through violent means, which has been their sole tactic to pursue their objectives. The splinters, which are often referred to as Punjabi Taliban, 1 have snapped links with their banned parent organizations, often declaring them puppets of official agencies, and developed a rapport with Taliban and Al Qaeda militants based largely in Pakistan s lawless tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. Most banned organizations use many covers for their operations. The first response of banned organizations to official clampdown in recent years has been to start operating under a new name. Changed names of charities also mask their links with militant organizations. The proscribed Jaish-e-Muhammad militant group is now active as Tehrik-e-Khuddamul Islam, while raising funds and launching campaigns as Al-Rehmat Trust, the charity wing of the organization. Similarly, Jamaatud Daawa (JD) is carrying out its activities as Tehrik-e-Tahaffuz-e-Hurmat-e-Rasool, while Idara Khidmat-e-Khalaq oversees the group s charitable projects and fund raising through donations, etc. In this context, understanding the structural complexities of the militant groups can help evolve better counterstrategies. iii. Accurate Threat Perception: Accurate threat perception is crucial to effective response to the threats Pakistan faces. A clear approach based on a distinction between the challenges of a tribal insurgency and pervasive terrorism besetting the country is required at the policy level. Al Qaeda, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups in Pakistan may have a nexus but their operational strategies and partners are different. Countermeasures at the security, political and ideological levels need to factor in those differences and respond accordingly. Understanding the nature of the challenge in each context is also important. The security challenges in the tribal areas and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are inherently different from those in Punjab and urban Sindh. The tribal areas are in the throes of an extremist militancy, which has local and regional context and the militants have resorted to violent acts of terrorism as a tactic against the security forces. In mainland Pakistan, however, terrorism has its roots in the ideological, political and sectarian narratives developed by the religious parties, militant groups and, at times, by the state itself. The disparate nature of threats calls for an equally diverse approach to counter them. Concentrating on banned organizations alone rather than their splinters, over which the parent outfits have no control, misses a trick and emergence of further splinters among these organizations can complicate the counter-terrorism effort even more. In this perspective, a comprehensive study of the militant landscape of Pakistan is urgently needed. Divided into two parts, this report offers a backgrounder on the militant groups, as well as the nature of threats they pose and how to counter them. Before going into further detail a brief outlook of religious organizations in Pakistan would help understand the phenomenon. The first part consists of an introduction to religious organizations in Pakistan. 2 P a g e

4 2. Mapping the Religious Organizations in Pakistan As many as religious organizations operated in Pakistan at the national and provincial level in 2002; at present their number is 232. These organizations pursue multiple agendas, such as transformation of society according to their ideologies, enforcement of Shariah law, establishment of Khilafah (caliphate) system, fulfilment of their sectarian objectives and achievement of Pakistan s strategic and ideological objectives through militancy. Although general trends are easy to identify, categorization of religious parties is not quite as straightforward, mainly because most of the religious organizations are working for multiple agendas, either themselves or through affiliated groups and entities. A closer look suggests that even today most of the religious organizations in Pakistan move around or at least at some time had link with the main religious organizations which were active in the country in the 1950s, including the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) and Jamiat Ahle-Hadith. These main organizations included All Pakistan Shia Political Parties, which became Tehrik Nifaz-e-Fiqa-e-Jafaria in the late 1970s. Almost all other religious outfits, whether working for missionary, sectarian or educational/charitable pursuits or engaged in militancy, are affiliated with or are break-away factions of these five major organizations. Most importantly, even the affiliates or splinters believe in the agendas of their parent organizations. The major difference is that the parent organizations focus is on Islamization and that of the splinters on religio-socialization. The parent parties, which have a religious agenda and focus, are part of Pakistan s mainstream politics, believe in the Constitution of Pakistan, participate in electoral politics, and are classified as religious political parties. In the last two decades another form of religious organizations has also emerged. These are the agents of Islamization and religio-socialization but believe that change is impossible within the Constitution of Pakistan and the current political dispensation. They deem democracy and the democratic process inadequate for the change they pursue and advocate. Some of them such as Jamaatud Daawa, the Khilafah movement, Hizbut Tehrir and Al-Muhajiroon deem that democracy is an idea contrary to Islamic principles of governance and want to replace it with their own version of Shariah. Some groups such as Tanzeemul Akhwan and Tanzeem-e-Islami believe that Shariah cannot be introduced in its entirety through the democratic electoral process and consider use of force or toppling of the government as alternatives. These organizations have sectarian and militant tendencies but the dominant approach is renewalist, characterized by their quest for a complete change of system. This is contrary to the religious political parties approach, which focuses on gradual change within the system. In this perspective, the religious parties in Pakistan may be categorized according to their projected aims: a. Sectarian All parties that have a specific sectarian focus and promote antagonism against other sects of Islam or engage in sectarian rhetoric or armed conflict on sectarian lines are classified as sectarian outfits, notwithstanding their participation in electoral politics and in militant activities. Examples include outfits Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ), and Barelvi groups Sunni Tehreek (ST) and Jamaat-e-Ahle-Sunnat. 3 P a g e

5 b. Religio-political All those parties that believe in the Constitution of Pakistan and participate in electoral politics are classified as religious political parties regardless of their sectarian and religious reformist agendas, such as the JUI, JUP, JI, Markazi Jamiat Ahle-Hadith (MJA) and Shia group Islami Tehreek. c. Non-political All those parties that emphasize on missionary activities, Sufism, Khilafah, and have social or religious reform agendas are categorized as non-political despite their political, militant and sectarian affiliations. Such parties include Tanzeemul Ikhwan, Jamaatud Daawa and Minhajul Quran. d. Militant s All those outfits that pursue and promote militancy in Kashmir, Afghanistan and elsewhere and are active on the militant front are described as militant groups, notwithstanding their sectarian and political affiliations. These include the banned Jaish-e-Muhammad, Harkatul Mujahideen, Al-Badar Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba. e. Taliban Taliban are Islamist groups that emerged in Pakistan s Federally Administrative Tribal Areas (FATA) neighboring Afghanistan and parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after 9/11. Initially, their objective was to wage war in Afghanistan against NATO forces. However, they subsequently adopted other agendas, such as Islamization in FATA and absorbed sectarian tendencies. Most of the Taliban groups belong to school of thought, but some groups, which emerged in response to actions of the Taliban or other sectarian groups with similar causes also fall in the same category. Examples include Ansarul Islam, a Barelvi-dominated organization in Khyber Agency, and Shah Khalid, a Salafi outfit in Mohmand Agency of FATA. Many terrorist cells mainly from non-pashtun areas are jointly referred to as "Punjabi Taliban. This is a brand name for terrorist groups detached from the mainland militant organizations, as well as for the newly emerged terrorist cells with similar causes. The reference to Punjab, the most populous province, is not necessarily to highlight a strand of militants on an ethnic or linguistic basis, as Punjabi Taliban groups comprise militants from across the country. In the Soviet-Afghan war, the Afghan Mujahideen used the term Punjabi Mujahideen to refer to militants from mainland Pakistan. When Pakistani groups started contributing to the insurgency in Indian-held Kashmir, they were referred to as Afghan Mujahideen, although most of the militants were from the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. In this context, it is not surprising that after the Taliban emerged in Afghanistan in the mid-1990s, Pakistani groups there were tagged as Punjabi Taliban. Afghan and Pakistani tribal Taliban use the same term for them. 4 P a g e

6 f. Khilafah Movements These include the outfits that do not believe in the Constitution of Pakistan or the democratic dispensation and want Khilafah rule in Pakistan. For the purposes of this study, they are referred to as Khilafah movements regardless of their sectarian affiliations. Examples include Hizbut Tehrir and Tanzeem-e-Islami. 3. Distribution of Religious Organizations in Pakistan As mentioned earlier, there are over 230 religious parties operating in Pakistan. In 1947, only six religious parties were active the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Tehreek-e-Ahrar (TA), Khaksar Tehreek, Jamaat-e-Ahle-Hadith (JA) and Shia Political Party (SPP). In 1948, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP), representing the Barelvi school of thought, emerged. The proliferation of religious organizations in Pakistan started in the 1970s and reached its peak during the Soviet-Afghan war in the 1980s. The total number of religious organizations in Pakistan had reached 30 until 1979, including seven from the school of thought, five subscribing to Barelvi and four each to Ahle-Hadith and Shia beliefs, while three groups that were either splinters of or influenced by the JI also surfaced. In the 1980s, a sharp increase in the growth of religious parties was observed and their number rose to 239 in These figures only take into consideration organizations at the national, regional and provincial level. The number runs into thousands if small groups at the local level are also counted. Among the 239, as many as 21 parties participate in electoral politics, 148 work purely on sectarian agendas, 24 are associated with militant jihad, 12 groups seek establishment of a caliphate system in the country and do not believe in the democratic dispensation, 18 are missionary in nature focused mainly on preaching their sectarian thoughts while 10 operate as charities. The highest concentration of these religious organizations is in the Punjab province, where 107 organizations have their headquarters. (See Table 1) The provincial capital Lahore, which is considered the cultural capital of the country, can also be described as the capital of religious organizations. It is the only city in the whole of South Asia where at least 71 religious organizations operate. Multan is the second major hub in the province where 18 religious organizations have their headquarters. Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa follow the trend with 48 and 43, respectively, but figures for these two regions also include small militant groups and Taliban factions. If these are not counted the strength of religious organizations in the two regions is quite low. In Sindh, most of the religious organizations have their headquarters in Karachi, mainly because of the ethnic diversity, and social and cultural landscape of the city and because the city is the financial capital of the country and a major donation base for religious organizations. Table 1: Religious Organizations (2002) 3 Sect/School of Thought Political Sectarian Militant Educational/ Total other Barelvi Ahle-Hadith P a g e

7 Shia JI and its factions Others Total Table 2: Religious Organizations (2011) 4 Sect/School of Thought Political Non- Political Sectarian Militant Educational/ other Total Barelvi Ahle-Hadith Shia JI and its factions Others 4 1 1) Tribal Taliban factions: ) Punjabi Taliban factions:23 3) Kashmir & FATA-based militant groups 5 : 13 3) Foreign militant groups: 5 Total i. Barelvi The majority of Muslims in Pakistan follow the Sunni/Barelvi school of thought. Until 2002, Barelvis ran 39 religious organizations in Pakistan, but now the number has dropped to 36. Most militant groups of the Barelvi sect have disappeared from the scene following the post-9/11 government policy towards militant groups. 6 However, Barelvi outfits are still larger in number than those of other sects. Even in terms of small local groups operating at the district and sub-district levels, 7 Barelvis are ahead of other sects. In 2011, 36 major Barelvi organizations were operating throughout the country 6 P a g e

8 seven of them were political, 11 sectarian, 12 non-political/ missionary and four militant. Four organizations were working in the field of education. (See Table 3) There are clear divisions among the Barelvis on the basis of the Sufi order they follow, but these differences have little impact at the organizational level, as major parties have representations from all Sufi orders. Table 3: Barelvi Organizations No Name Established Nature 1 Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (Noorani) 2 Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (Niazi) 3 Markazi Jamiat Ulema-e- Pakistan (Fazal Kareem ) 4 Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (Nifaz-e-Shariat) 1951 Political/religious 1988 Political/religious 1999 Political/religious 1998 Political/religious 5 Nizam-e-Mustafa Party 2002 Political/religious 6 Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) 1990 Political/religious 7 Jamiatul Mashaikh - Political/religious 8 Sunni Tehreek 1990 Sectarian/political 9 Jamaat-e-Ahle-Sunnat 1953 Sectarian 10 Aalmi Tanzeem Ahle-Sunnat 1998 Sectarian 11 Tehreek Minhajul Quran 1989 Non-political/missionary 12 Aalmi Daawat-e-Islamia 1998 Non-political/missionary 13 Tehreek-e-Fidayan Khatm-e- Nabuwwat 1998 Sectarian 14 Daawat-e-Islami 1984 Non-political/missionary 15 Anjuman Talaba-e-Islam 1968 Student wing of JUP 16 Anjuman Naojawanan-e-Islam 1998 Sectarian 17 Mustafai Tehreek 1996 Sectarian 7 P a g e

9 18 Ameer-e-Millat Foundation 1998 Non-political/charity 19 Ulema Council 1998 Non-political 20 Majlis al-daawa Islamia 1990 Non-political/missionary 21 Ittehadul Mashaikh - Sectarian 22 Tanzeem Mashaikh-e-Uzzam 2001 Non-political/missionary 23 Jamaat Raza-e-Mustafa - Sectarian 24 Sunni Ulema Council - Non-political 25 Sawad-e-Azam Ahle-Sunnat 2001 Sectarian 26 Sipah-e-Mustafa 1989 Sectarian 27 Karwan-e-Islam 2000 Sectarian 28 Shairaan-e-Islam - Militant/sectarian 29 Idara Tanzeem Daawat-e-Islam 1999 Non-political/missionary 30 Tehreek-e-Jihad, Jammu-o- Kashmir 31 Tanzeemul Madaaris Ahle- Sunnat 1997 Militant - Non-political/ educational 32 Lashkar-e-Islam 1996 Militant 33 Mustafwi Student Movement - Student wing of PAT 34 Majlis Ulema-e-Nizamia - Non-political 35 Anjuman Asatiza-e-Pakistan - Non-political/ educational 36 Ziaul Ummat Foundation - Non-political/ educational 37 Sunni Jihad Council - Militant/sectarian 38 Sunni Ittehad Council 2009 Alliance of Sunni organizations against extremism 8 39 Tanzeemul Madaris Educational board from 8 P a g e

10 Barelvi madrassas ii. Fifty-three organizations of the sect operate in Pakistan. (Table 4) Until 2002, the number of organizations was 45. (Table 1) In the past few years, factions of the JUI have further fractured into three groups and the party now has six active factions. The new organizations include militant groups, mainly Taliban outfits, and others groups that split into factions over internal differences. The TTP, 9 Jundullah and Lashkar-e-Islam emerged as new groups, while the banned Jaish-e-Muhammad (JM), Harkatul Mujahideen (HM) and Harkatul Jihad-e-Islami (HUJI) splintered into groups. The Jamaatul Furqan is a splinter group of the JM, while HUJI militants Commander Illyas and Maulvi Muzaffar have parted ways with their parent organization. Harkatul Mujahideen Al-Almi is a splinter group of the HM. The three factions of the JUI that came into existence between 2002 and 2008 include one formed by Maulana Asmatullah and Hafiz Muhammad Barech in Balochistan a month ahead of the 2008 general election. The split badly affected the JUI showing in the elections. Expressing lack of faith in the JUI-F leadership, Maulana Khaleel Ahmed formed his own faction, the JUI-Haqeeqi, in JUI-Sami also suffered an internal crisis in 2005, with one of its main leaders forming a faction called JUI-Senior. In 2011, 53 religious political parties of the sect were operating across Pakistan seven were political, 16 sectarian, 12 non-political/missionary, 19 militant and four worked in the education field. Table 4: Organizations No Name Established Nature 1 Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazlur Rehman) 2 Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Samiul Haq) 3 Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Nazriati) 4 Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Senior) 1949 Political/religious 1981 Political/religious 2008 Political/religious 2005 Political/religious 5 Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Qadri) 1981 Political/religious 6 Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Haqeeqi) 2006 Political/religious 7 Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan 1985 Sectarian/political 9 P a g e

11 8 Tablighi Jamaat 1920 Missionary 9 Jamiat Eshaat-e-Tauheed-o- Sunnat 10 Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e- Muhammadi 1939 Sectarian 1990 Militant 11 Majlis-e-Ahrar Pakistan 1939 Sectarian/political 12 Jamiat Ahle-Sunnat - Sectarian 13 Ahle-Sunnat-wal-Jamaat 2003 Sectarian 14 Tehreek Difaa-e-Sahaba 1987 Sectarian 15 Wafaqul Madaaris Al-Arabia 1987 Educational 16 Pakistan Shariat Council - Educational/sectarian 17 Jamaat-e-Ahle-Sunnat (Northern Areas) 1990 Sectarian 18 Ittehad Ulema-e-Baltistan 1995 Sectarian 19 Jaish-e-Muhammad 2000 Militant 20 Harkatul Mujahideen 1987 Militant 21 Harkatul Mujahideen Al- Aalami 2001 Militant 22 Harkat-e-Jihad-e-Islami 1980 Militant 23 Harkat-e-Jihad-e-Islami (Ilyas Kashmiri ) Harkat-e-Jihad-e-Islami (Muzaffar Kashmiri ) 25 Harkat-e-Jihad-e-Islami (Burma) 26 Jamiatul Mujahideen Al- Aalami 1991 Militant 1997 Militant 1988 Militant 1983 Militant Jamaatul Furqan 2002 Militant 27 Jundullah 2003 Militant 10 P a g e

12 28 Jundullah (Balochistan) 2005 Militant 29 Lashkar-e-Jhangvi 1996 Sectarian/militant 30 Lashkar-e-Islam 2004 Sectarian/militant 31 Tehreek-e-Taliban Militant 32 Punjabi Taliban Militant 33 Mashaikh-e-Pakistan - Religious 34 Tehreek Nifaz-e-Islam 2007 Militant/sectarian 35 Majlis Sianatul Muslimeen 1944 Missionary 36 Pakistan Ulema Council 2000 Religious 37 Aalmi Majlis Khatm-e- Nabuwwat 38 Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Khatm-e- Nabuwwat 1949 Religious/sectarian 1949 Religious/sectarian 39 Pasban Khatm-e-Nabuwwat 1949 Religious/sectarian 40 International Khatm-e- Nabuwwat Movement - Religious/sectarian 41 Sawad-e-Azam Ahle-Sunnat - Sectarian 42 Tehreek Khuddam Ahle- Sunnat - Non-political 43 Azmat-e-Islam Movement 1995 Political 44 Anjuman Khuddam al-din - Non-political 45 Majlis Tanseeq-e-Islami 2001 Non-political 46 Muttahida Ulema Council - Non-political/sectarian 47 Jamiat Talaba-e-Islam (F) - Student wing 48 Jamiat Talaba-e-Islam (S) - Student wing 49 Sipah-e-Sahaba Students Movement 1987 Sectarian/student wing 50 Majlis-e-Amal Ulema-e-Islam 1998 Non-political/sectarian 11 P a g e

13 51 Mutaamar Al-Muhajiroon - Non-political 52 Khaksar Tehreek Political/religious 53 Tehreek Khilafat-e-Rashida 2004 Khilafah iii. Ahle-Hadith There are 18 groups of the Ahle-Hadith sect working in the country. Of these, three also participate in electoral politics, six are sectarian, five have educational or missionary focus, and five are militant outfits. Table 5: Ahle-Hadith Organizations No Name Established Nature 1 Markazi Jamiat Ahle-Hadith (Sajid Mir) 1956 Political/religious 2 Markazi Jamiat Ahle-Hadith (Ebtisaam) 1994 Political/religious 3 Jamaat Ahle-Hadith 1919 Political/ missionary 4 Jamaat Ghurba-e-Ahle-Hadith 1986 Sectarian/religious 5 Jamaatud Daawa 1986 Sectarian/social 6 Jamaatul Mujahideen 1837 Sectarian/militant 7 Tehreekul Mujahideen 1989 Militant 8 Jamaatud Daawa illal-quran-wa-sunnat - Militant 9 Lashkar-e-Taiba 1991 Militant 10 Khairun Naas Militant 10 Ahle-Hadith Youth Force (Sajid Mir) 1986 Sectarian/student organization 11 Ahle-Hadith Youth Force (Ebtisaam) 1995 Sectarian/student organization 12 Tablighi Jamaat Ahle-Hadith - Missionary 13 Wafaqul Madaaris Salafia - Educational 14 Shabban-e-Ahle-Hadith - Sectarian 12 P a g e

14 15 Ahle-Hadith Student Federation - Student organization 16 Tahaffuz-e-Haramain Sharifain Movement - Non-political/religious 17 Jamiat Ulema-e-Ahle-Hadith - Non-political/religious 18 Markazi Jamaat Ahle-Hadith 1995 Political/religious iv. Shia Twenty main groups and parties belonging to the Shia sect are operating in Pakistan. Out of these, four are political, 12 are sectarian, one each militant and educational and the rest are non-political and engage in charity work. Table 6: Shia Organizations No Name Established Nature 1 Tehreek-e-Islami April 1974 Religious/political 2 Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Fiqh-e-Jafaria (TNFJ) 1984 Religious/political 3 Jafaria Alliance - Religious/political 4 Shia Political Party - Religious/political 5 Imamia Student Organization (ISO) 1972 Sectarian/student organization 6 Jamiat Ulema-e-Jafaria - Religious/sectarian 7 Imamia Organization 1976 Sectarian 8 Mukhtar Force 1999 Sectarian 9 Pasban-e-Islam 1989 Sectarian 10 Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz Haqooq-e-Shia (TTHS) 1990 Sectarian 11 Sipah-e-Muhammad 1990 Sectarian 12 Hizbul Momineen 1991 Militant 13 Shia Supreme Council 1972 Sectarian 14 Tehreek Haqooq-e-Jafaria 1990 Sectarian 15 Aalmi Majlis Ahle-Bait - Sectarian 13 P a g e

15 16 Jafaria Student Organization (JSO) - Sectarian/ student wing of Tehrik-e- Islami 17 Wafaqul Madaaris Shia 1980 Educational 18 All Shia Action Committee Pakistan (ASAC) - Sectarian 19 Millat-e-Jafaria Rabita Council (MJRC) - Non-political 20 Pasban-e-Aza Karachi - Non-political v. Jamaat-e-Islami The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has 11 major affiliated organizations that have focused on areas as diverse as militant jihad, education and charitable pursuits and raising their voice for workers rights. In addition, there are eight organizations that either broke away from the JI or were created by members of JI under the influence of Maulana Maududi, the JI founder, for social and educational reforms. (See Table 7) Table 7: JI Affiliates and Breakaway Factions No Name Established Nature 1 Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) August 26, 1941 Political/religious 2 Tanzeem-e-Islami 1972 Khilafah movement 3 Tehreek-e-Islami 1993 Political 4 Markazi Anjuman Khuddamul Quran 1972 Missionary 5 Jamiat Ittehadul Ulema Board - Ulema wing of JI 6 Shabab-e-Milli - Youth wing 7 Pasban 1990 Movement for social change/political 8 Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT) - Student wing 9 Jamiat Talaba-e-Arabia - Madrassa student wing of JI 10 Rabitatul Madaaris - Educational board of JI madrassas 11 Hizbul Mujahideen 1989 Militant 14 P a g e

16 12 Al-Badar Mujahideen 1991 Militant 13 Hizb-e-Islami 2000 Militant 14 Jamiatul Mujahideen 1991 Militant 15 National Labor Federation - Labor wing of JI 16 Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) - Medical wing of JI 17 Pakistan Business Forum - Traders wing of JI 18 Tehreek-e-Mehnat Pakistan - Industrial workers wing of JI 19 Islamic Directorate of Education - Educational 4. Militant s There are 15 major militant groups that originated in mainland Pakistan and are operating in Indianheld Kashmir, Pakistan s tribal areas or in Afghanistan. If groups from Kashmir and FATA are included the number of militant outfits reaches 102. s from the mainland include one from the Barelvi school of thought, two each from Ahle-Hadith and the JI and the rest from the sect. (See Table 8) Table 8: Militant s Operating 14 No Name Sect Head Area of Operation Current Status 1 Lashkar-e- Taiba Ahle- Hadith Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi Kashmir and India Banned but active 2 Jaish-e- Muhammad Maulana Masood Azhar Pakistan Banned but active 3 Hizbul Mujahideen 15 Jamaat-e- Islami Syed Salahuddin Kashmir Active 4 Al-Badar Mujahideen JI Bakht Zameen Pakistan and Kashmir Active 5 Harkatul Maulana Fazlur Kashmir and Active 15 P a g e

17 Mujahideen Rehman Khalil Afghanistan 6 Harkatul Jihad-e-Islami Qari Saifullah Akhtar Kashmir, India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan Active 7 Harkatul Jihad-e-Islami (Burma) Maulana Abdul Quddus Arkan province of Myanmar Not known 8 Jamaatul Furqan Maulana Abdul Jabbar Pakistan and Kashmir Active 9 Jundullah Ataur Rehman Karachi Active 10 Jundullah Balochistan Abdul Malek Reigi 16 Balochistan and Iran Active 11 Lashkar-e- Jhangvi Muhammad Akram Lahori Across Pakistan Active 12 Jamiatul Mujahideen Al-Aalmi Maulana Abdullah from Dera Ismail Khan Kashmir Active 13 Harkatul Mujahideen Al-Aalmi Muhammad Imran Karachi Active 14 Tehreekul Mujahideen 17 Ahle- Hadith Sheikh Jamilur Rehman Kashmir Active 15 Sunni Jihad Council Barelvi Kashmir Suspended 5. Kashmir 16 P a g e

18 As many as 10 major religious parties operate in Pakistani administrative Kashmir, most are offshoots of Pakistani religious parties. These include three from the Barelvi sect, two each from the, Ahle- Hadith and Shia sects, and one from the JI. Of these, only the JI directly takes part in elections, while the other religious parties confine themselves to supporting mainstream political parties, mainly because of their own lack of popular support. Table 9: Religious Organizations in Kashmir No Name Head Sect Nature 1 Jamiat Ulema-e-Jammu-o- Kashmir Pir Atiqur Rehman Faizpuri Barelvi Political/religious 2 Jamaat-e-Islami Sardar Ejaz Afzal Khan Jamaat-e- Islami Political/religious 3 Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Maulana Saeed Yousaf Political/religious 4 Jamiat Ahle-Hadith Maulana Shahab Madani Ahle-Hadith Political/religious 5 Islamic Democratic Party Ghulam Raza Shah Naqvi Shia Political/religious 6 Jamaat Ahle-Sunnat Mufti Wajahat Hussain Shah Barelvi Religious 7 Ahle-Sunnat wal Jamaat Mufti Muhammad Owais Religious 8 Tehreek-e-Jafria Mufti Kifayat Naqvi Shia Religious 9 Jamaatud Daawa Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi Ahle-Hadith Religious 10 Tehreek Nifaz-e-Nizam-e- Mustafa Maulana Arif Gillani Barelvi Religious The total number of militant groups operating in Kashmir is 23. Of these, 15 have their origins in Kashmir and Pakistani commanders lead the rest. The groups led by Pakistanis are more powerful, like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Muhammad, Al-Badar Mujahideen and HUJI Brigade 313. Hizbul Mujahideen, Jamiatul Mujahideen, Al-Barq and Al-Omer Mujahideen are among influential groups formed by Kashmiris in Indian-held Kashmir. Six Kashmiri groups have affiliations with political parties and have predominantly nationalist, rather than religious, tendencies. Table 10: Militant s in Kashmir No Name Head Sect /Party 1 Hizbul Mujahideen Syed Salahuddin Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) 17 P a g e

19 2 Lashkar-e-Taiba Maulana Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi 3 Jaish-e-Muhammad Maulana Esmatullah Muaviya Ahle-Hadith 4 Muslim Janbaz Force Muhammad Usman - 5 Hizbullah Javed Dand - 6 Al-Jihad Nazeer Kernai Peoples League 7 Al-Fatah Force Bashir Ahmad Khaki Peoples League 8 Harkat-e-Jihad-e- Islami 9 Tehreekul Mujahideen Commander Imran Sheikh Jameelur Rehman Ahle-Hadith 10 Hizbul Momineen Shuja Abbas Shia 11 Tehreek-e-Jihad Major (r) Tariq Kiani Barelvi 12 Islamic Front Bilal Baig - 13 Al-Barq Mujahideen Farooq Quraishi Peoples Conference 14 Jamiatul Mujahideen Ghulam Rasool Shah alias General Abdullah JI descendent 15 Harkatul Mujahideen Maulana Farooq Kashmiri 16 Al-Umar Mujahideen Mushtaq Zargar - 17 Hizb-e-Islami Masood Sarfraz JI 18 Al-Badar Mujahideen 19 Harkat-e-Jihad-e- Islami 313 Brigade 20 Harkatul Jihad-e- Islami (Muzaffar ) Bakht Zameen Maulana Ilyas Kashmiri Maulana Muzaffar Kashmiri JI 18 P a g e

20 21 Lashkar-e-Islam Maulana Liaqat Azhari Barelvi 22 Jamiatul Mujahideen (Al-Aalmi) Maulana Habibur Rehman 23 Jamaatul Furqan Commandeer Abdul Jabbar 6. Gilgit Baltistan In Pakistan s Gilgit Baltistan region all seven religious political parties are sectarian in their outlook but also take part in the political process. Of the seven parties, only the Jamaat-e-Ahle-Sunnat does not take part in electoral politics. As is the case in Kashmir, all these parties are the offshoots of mainstream Pakistani religious forces. The Millat-e-Islamia, the JI and the JUI are considered more influential parties. Table 11: Religious Organizations in Gilgit Baltistan No Name Headed by Sect Nature 1 Millat-e-Islamia Syed Raziuddin Shia Political/religious 2 Tehreek-e-Jafaria Agha Syed Rahatul Hussaini Shia Religious 3 Jamaat-e-Ahle-Sunnat Qazi Nisar Religious 5 Ittehad Ulema-e-Baltistan Maulana Sanaullah Ghalib Religious 6 Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Qazi Inayatullah Political/religious 7 Jamaat-e-Islami Mushtaq Ahmad Advocate Jamaat-e-Islami Political/religious 7. Tribal Areas 18 In Pakistan s tribal areas, or Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), as they are formally known, several religious organizations are operating with agendas ranging from militant and sectarian to enforcement of Shariah. Clear categorization of these groups has become difficult, especially after the emergence of Taliban groups across FATA and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas of (PATA) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province as well as their spread into settled areas of the province. Affiliates of religious political parties and militant groups originating from mainland Pakistan such as the JI, JUI, Jaish-e-Muhammad, Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi are easier to identify. These groups are affiliated with local Taliban groups. There is a thin line differentiating between Taliban and other militant groups in FATA who demand imposition of Shariah. Besides the Taliban in Pakistan, who associate with their namesakes in Afghanistan, some militant groups in FATA and PATA are also fighting government and allied forces in Afghanistan but do not call themselves Taliban. These include the Jamaatud Daawa wal Quran-o-Sunnat the oldest militant group in FATA s Bajaur tribal region and 19 P a g e

21 Afghanistan s Kunar province and groups affiliated with Hizb-e-Islami, such as Al-Badar Mujahideen. There are some groups which focus on enforcement of Shariah, such as the Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat- Muhammadi (TNSM), Lashkar-e-Islam and Ansarul Islam. (See Table 12) Although Taliban groups are also divided on tribal, ethnic, ideological and sectarian lines, they share the common agenda of militancy in Afghanistan. The number of Taliban groups in FATA exceeds 50 but only the major Taliban groups are listed in Table 13. Smaller Taliban groups are often affiliated with the major groups. Table 12: Non-Taliban Militant s No Name Areas of Concentration Sect 1 Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e- Muhammadi 2 Jamiat Ishaat al-tauhid wal Sunnat Bajaur, Malakand Bajaur, Malakand 3 Lashkar-e-Islam Khyber Agency 4 Ansarul Islam Khyber Agency Barelvi 5 Tanzeem Ahle-Sunnat wal Jamaat 6 Jamaatud Daawa wal Quran-o-Sunnat Khyber Agency Bajaur, Mohmand, Afghanistan Barelvi Ahle-Hadith 7 Al-Badar Mujahideen Malakand, Bajaur Hizb-e-Islami Table 13: Important Taliban s No Name Tribe Headed by Strength 19 Area of Concentration 1 Baitullah Mehsud Hakeemullah Mehsud 20,000 South Waziristan Agency(SWA) 2 Shehryar Mehsud Shehryar Mehsud SWA 3 Said Alam Mehsud Said Alam 100 SWA 4 Mullah Nazir Ahmadzai Wazir Mullah Nazir 4,000 SWA 20 P a g e

22 5 Abbas Ahmadzai Wazir Commander Abbas SWA 6 Noor Islam 7 Haji Sharif 8 Haji Omer 9 Ghulam Jan Ahmadzai Wazir Ahmadzai Wazir Ahmadzai Wazir Ahmadzai Wazir Noor Islam 300 SWA Haji Sharif 500 SWA Haji Omer 500 SWA Ghulam Jan 200 SWA 10 Javed Karmazkh el Wazir Commander Javed SWA 11 Awal Khan Bhittani Commander Awal Khan Jandolain area in SWA 10 Angaar Bhittani Bhittani Asmatullah Shaheen 150 Jundola in SWA 12 Gul Bahadur Utmanzai Wazir Qari Gul Bahadur 800 North Waziristan Agency (NWA) 13 Daur Daur Sadiq Noor NWA 14 Khaliq Haqqani Daur Abdul Khaliq Haqqani 500 NWA 15 Wahidullah Utmanzai Wazir Wahidullah 200 Spalga area in NWA 16 Saifullah Turikhel, Utmanzai Wazir Commander Saifullah NWA 17 Abdul Rehman Daur Abdul Rehman Mirali in NWA 21 P a g e

23 18 Manzoor Daur Commander Manzoor Eidaq area in NWA 19 Haleem Daur Haleem Khan 100 Mirali in NWA 20 Maulvi Faqir of TSNM 21 Tehreek Jaish-e- Islami Pakistan 22 Karawan Naimatullah Mamund Maulvi Faqir 1,500-2,000 Commander Waliur Rehman Haji Naimatullah Bajaur Agency Bajaur Agency Bajaur Agency 23 Dr Ismail Dr Ismail 600 Bajaur Agency 24 Maulana Abdullah Maulana Abdullah 400 Utamzanai sub-district in Bajaur 25 Omer 26 Shah Sahib Qandhari sub-tribe of Safi tribe Omer Khalid 2,000 Mohmand Agency 1,000 Lakaro area in Mohmand Agency 27 Commander Tariq 28 Saad Fazl Commander Tariq Saad Fazl Haqqani 500 Darra Adam Khel 500 Kurram Agency 8. Punjabi Taliban Although a media report 20 quoting intelligence sources claims that around 17 banned terrorist organizations are active in the Punjab province but independent sources count more then 37 groups operating as Punjabi Taliban P a g e

24 Among these groups, 24 are breakaway factions of Pakistani militant groups, who were once engaged in Kashmir and Afghanistan, or were part of sectarian terrorist organizations in Pakistan. Amongst these, 12 groups originated in Punjab, four in Karachi, one each in Balochistan, Kashmir and Islamabad and two in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Fourteen new terrorist cells have emerged apparently in reaction to the state s alliance in the war on terror, military operations in Pakistan s tribal areas and the security forces operation at Lal Masjid in Islamabad in Most of these groups do not have any link with existing militant or sectarian organizations and have between five and 12 members. These groups typically contacted the Taliban in the tribal areas and offered their services as volunteers for jihad. A brief description of the two types of Punjabi Taliban is given below: Lashkar-e-Zil: The group is involved in many terrorist attacks in Pakistan, mainly targeting the military and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). 2. Asmatullah Muaviya : Muaviya, the head of the group, was part of many militant organizations in Pakistan, including Harkatul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Muhammad. The group specializes in suicide attacks. 3. Qari Zafar : Formed by Qari Zafar from Karachi, this is a splinter group of Lashkar-e- Jhangvi and is notorious for targeting the security forces, especially the police in Punjab. 4. Badar Mansoor : Mansoor is a resident of Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He was an important commander of Harkatul Mujahideen. He formed his own group in 2005 and moved to South Waziristan. The group is involved in sectarian killings and attacks on public places. 5. Bengali : Headed by Farooq Bhai Bengali, this group specializes in suicide attacks. Most of its members are from Karachi s Bengali and Burmese immigrant communities. The group is considered a splinter of Harkatul Jihad-e-Islami (Burma). 6. Amjad Farooqi : Amjad Farooqi was a member of Harkatul Jihad-e-Islami and was involved in many terrorist attacks in Islamabad, including an assassination attempt on former military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf. He was killed by the security forces in His followers formed this group and named it after him. The group is now active in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. 7. Gandapur : The group is active in Mianwali district of Punjab. 8. Usman Kurd : Kurd heads this group, which is a Balochistan-based faction of the Lashkare-Jhangvi (LJ). The group has Punjabi and Urdu-speaking militants in its fold. 9. Maulvi Rafiq : Based in Sada, Kurram Agency, this group is mainly involved in sectarian violence. 10. Kaleemullah : This group comprises of former members of LJ from Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 11. Gul Hassan : This is a splinter of Jaish-e-Muhammad and is affiliated with the TTP. 23 P a g e

25 12. Abdul Jabbar : A splinter of Jaish-e-Muhammad, this group is mainly involved in fighting in Afghanistan. 13. Qari Yasin : This is a splinter group of LJ. The head of the group hails from the central Punjab district of Kasur. 14. Noor Khan : This is another LJ splinter group, headed by Rana Afzal alias Noor Khan. 15. Fedayyan-e-Islam: This is an alliance of six Punjabi Taliban groups. The Illyas Kashmiri, Asmat Muaviya, Qari Zafar, Rana Afzal, Qari Hussain and Commander Tariq groups are parts of this alliance. The alliance launches coordinated terrorist attacks inside Pakistan. 16. Qari Shakeel : This is a splinter of LJ. The group has links with Mohmand Agency-based Taliban. 17. Maulvi Karim : This group is active in Rahim Yar Khan district of Punjab. A former member of HUJI, Maulvi Abdul Kareem, heads this group. 18. Qari Imran : The group is a splinter of HUJI and is active in Punjab. 19. Qari Saifullah : Qari was a founder member of HUJI, but after 9/11 that organization was crushed by the law enforcement agencies. Qari was arrested in Upon his release in 2008 he tried to revive the group again. Now the group is active in Lahore and surrounding districts of Punjab. 20. Matiur Rehman : Headed by a former member of HUJI, Matiur Rehman alias Samad Sial, this group is active in South Punjab. 21. Lashkar-e-JhangviJ (Malik Ishaq ): The group s head, Malik Ishaq, is in jail and facing trail for his role in many terrorist attacks, but the group remains active in Punjab. 22. Qari Ahsan : Crime Investigative Department (CID) Punjab in its 12 th edition of the red book, titled Most Wanted High Profile Terrorists, claims that the group specializes in making explosives and suicide jackets. 23. Baba Ji : This group is operating in Mailsi and Bahawalpur districts of Punjab and has been classified by the Punjab CID as among the most dangerous in the province. 9. Religious Parties Alliances Eight religious and militant groups alliances also exist in Pakistan, of which six are active. Three alliances are essentially political coalitions, including the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), while the agenda of two is militant and that of the rest sectarian. Milli Yekjehti Council was formed to counter sectarianism in the country in the 1990s. 24 P a g e

26 Table 14: Religious Parties Alliances No Name of Alliance Component Parties Nature Current Status 1 Muttahida Majlis-e- Amal (MMA) JI, JUI-F, JUI-S, JUP-N, IT, MJAH Political Active but difference have emerged among its component parties 2 United Jihad Council (UJC) HM, MJF, TM, TJ, AUM, ABM, IF, AFF, HUJI, HB, AJ, HBM and JM Militant Active 3 Afghan Defense Council (ADC) JI, JUI-F, JUI-S, JUP-N, IT, MJAH, SSP, TIP, TIK, TI, HM, JM, LT, HUJI, ABM, PSC, TTA, MUC, IKN, JMP-Z, JITS, SAA, ML, PUC, MAM, MP, MUF, BP, JIU, PPI, NPP and JUI (Azad Kashmir) Political/ religious Nonfunctional 4 Milli Yekjehti Council (MYC) SSP, SM, TJ, JI, JUI(F), JUI-S, JUP-N and MJAH Religious Nonfunctional 5 Jammu Jihad Council (JJC) HUJI 313 Brigade, LT, ABM, HM and TM Militant Active 6 Difaa-e- Islam Mahaz All Ahle-Sunnat organizations in Lahore Religious Active 7 Pakistan Islami Ittehad Markazi Jamaat Ahle- Hadith, Jamiat Ahle- Hadith Supreme Council Peshawar and Jamiat Ahle- Hadith Azad Kashmir Religious/ political Active 8 Ittehad Tanzeemate-Deeni Madaaris Five madrassa boards of, Barelvi, Ahle- Hadith, Shia sects and Jamaat-e-Islami Educational Active 25 P a g e

27 10. Religious Charities Thirteen major charities affiliated with religious or militant groups operate in Pakistan. Most of these charities came into being after the ban on militant groups in The banned groups changed their identities to avoid government restrictions. After the curbs, Al-Rehmat Trust became the cover name for Jaish-e-Muhammad and Al-Hilal Trust for Harkatul Mujahideen. Some charities were also affected by the ban because of their alleged links with terrorist groups; they also changed their names. Al-Rasheed Trust now operates as Al-Amin Trust and Al-Akhtar Trust as Azmat-e-Pakistan Foundation. Table 15: Religious Charities No Name Affiliation Areas of Activities 1 Maymar Trust /Taliban All provinces of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir 2 Azmat-e-Pakistan Foundation /Taliban All provinces of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir 3 Al-Khair Trust All provinces of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir 4 Al-Rehmat Trust Jaish-e- Muhammad All provinces of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir 5 Idara Khidmat-e- Khalq 6 Al-Khidmat Foundation Jamaatud Daawa Jamaat-e-Islami All provinces of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir All provinces of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir 7 Al-Asr Trust Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab 8 Al-Hilal Trust Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 9 Al-Naser Trust Karachi 10 Binoria Welfare Trust Karachi 11 Al-Khidmat Welfare Society 12 Al-Mustafa Welfare Society Jamaat-e-Islami Barelvi Karachi All provinces of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir 13 Ansar Welfare Trust Ahle-Hadith Azad Kashmir 26 P a g e

28 11. Student Wings of Religious Organizations Twelve religious, militant and sectarian groups maintain their student wings, which operate mostly in formal governmental and private sector educational institutions. Table 16: Student Wings of Religious Organizations No Name Affiliation Nature/Agenda 1 Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT) Jamaat-e-Islami Political 2 Jamiat Talaba Arabia Jamaat-e-Islami Political 3 Islami Jamiat-e-Talibaat Jamaat-e-Islami Political 4 Jamiat Talaba-e-Islam (JTI) Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam 23 Political 5 Sipah-e-Sahaba Students Pakistan (SSSP) Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan Sectarian 6 Imamia Student Organization (ISO) Millat-e-Jafria Sectarian 7 Ahle-Hadith Student Federation 24 Markazi Jamiat Ahle- Hadith Sectarian 8 Ahle-Hadith Youth Force Jamiat Ahle-Hadith Sectarian 9 Talaba Jamaatud Daawa Jamaatud Daawa Militant/sectarian 9 Anjuman Talba-e-Islam (ATI) Jamaat-e-Ahle-Sunnat Religious 10 Mustafawi Students Movement (MSM) Tehreek Minhajul Quran Political 11 Jafaria Student Organization Tehreek-e-Islamia Sectarian 12 Tehreek Talaba-o-Talibat Lal Masjid Violent religious movement 12. Religious Educational Organizations Every Muslim sect in Pakistan has its own set of madrassas and has formed its own educational boards to oversee curriculum development and holding of examinations in the madrassas. The sect manages the highest number of madrassas, 8,199, followed by 1,952 Barelvi madrassas. 27 P a g e

29 Table 17: Religious Educational Organizations No Name Sect Headed by Number of Affiliated Madrassas 25 1 Wafaqul Madaris Al- Arabia Maulana Saleemullah Khan 8,199 2 Tanzeemul Madaris Alhe-Sunnat Barelvi Maulana Mufti Muneebur Rehman 1,952 3 Wafaqul Madaris Al- Salafia Ahle-Hadith Maluana Naeemur Rehman Wafaqul Madaris Shia Fiqah-e- Jafaria Maulana Niaz Hussain Naqvi Rabitaul Madaris Al- Islamia Jamaat-e- Islami Maulana Abdul Malik P a g e

30 29 P a g e

31 30 P a g e

32 31 P a g e

33 32 P a g e

34 Notes: 1 "Punjabi Taliban is a brand name for terrorist groups detached from the mainland militant organizations, as well as for the newly emerged terrorist cells with similar causes. They have developed affiliations with Taliban and Al Qaeda. 2 Muhammad Amir Rana, A to Z of Militant Organizations in Pakistan (Lahore: Mashal, 2002). 3 Ibid. 4 Data compiled by the author through monitoring of media, the Election Commission of Pakistan and from sources in religious organizations. 5 These were not counted in the Tables of sectarian distribution of the organizations. 6 Muhammad Nawaz Kharal (spokesman of Sunni Ittehad Council), interview by the author in Lahore, Ibid. 8 According to the spokesman of the organization, Nawaz Kharal, it is now transforming into a political electoral alliance. 9 All Taliban groups from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the tribal areas are categorized as one organization, because of similarities in their agendas, tactics and strategies. These are also united under the banner of Tehrik-e- Taliban Pakistan. 10 Illyas Kashmiri was killed in a drone strike in South Waziristan on June 7, Taliban are divided into several groups. Here they are categorized as one group because of ideological and sectarian affinity. 12 Punjabi Taliban are not a monolithic entity and consist of many small groups. 13 This was breakaway faction of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Its current status is not known. 14 s from Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and semi-autonomous tribal areas are not included in this table. 15 Hizbul Mujahideen has infrastructure in Kashmir but it also has a network in Pakistan. 16 He was captured and hanged by the Iranian authorities in Tehreekul Mujahideen is a Kashmir-based group, which also it has its network in Pakistan. 18 Pakistan s tribal areas include Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA). 19 The strength of these groups is based on estimates by local journalists and tribal elders. 20 Active militant networks in Punjab, BBC Urdu (accessed July 27, 2010). 21 Muhammad Amir Rana, Unpacking Punjabi Taliban, The Friday Times, Lahore, July 30-August Ibid. 23 All factions of the JUI have their distinct student wings. 24 All factions of Jamiat Ahle-Hadith have their separate student wings. 25 Daily Jang, September 2, P a g e